'Partnership working for the promotion of sport and physical activity’
What are CSPANs?
CSPANs are networks of local people committed to partnership working in support of community sport and physical activity in Gloucestershire.
What do they do?
They are about adding value to what already exists and comprise a broad membership including volunteer groups, coaches, teachers, leisure providers, local authorities and primary care trusts. Through effective leadership they are able to successfully coordinate opportunities for sport and physical activity in the local area.
How do they work?
CSPANs identify local needs, priorities and potential interventions and develop a locally shared vision with “buy in” from key partners including to create economies of scale. By signing up to collectively agreed aims partners are able to better deliver outcomes within the community.
Core outcomes for all CSPANs:
- Increase the number of people taking part in sport and physical activity;
- Widen access to opportunities for sport and physical activity;
- Bring together and align partners existing priorities and targets for sport and physical activity within the CSPAN area, based upon needs of local communities and ensuring clarity in roles and responsibilities.
The benefits brought through CSPANs:
- Adding value to what already exists and learning from each other;
- Reflecting upon what is currently happening and helping to evolve and realign work if necessary;
- Improving communication between partners and providing a “single voice approach”;
- Making better use of existing local resources and identifying new projects;
- A “bottom up” influence on strategic planning and delivery that reflects local needs and demographics;
- Recognising, rewarding and celebrating excellence and achievement at a local level;
- Providing an opportunity to work towards achieving collective and individual targets;
- Demonstrating the power of sport and physical activity in supporting wider agendas;
- Influencing the local evidence base for investment in sport and physical activity at all levels.
The future
CSPANs provide an important means of identifying and responding to the needs and preferences of local people. Sustaining the participation of members in CSPANs will help to ensure that local priorities remain at the heart of decision making.
For more information contact Active Gloucestershire:
info@activegloucestershire.org
07510 135118
